Rudraksha

Rudraksha are the dried seeds of the Elaeocarpus ganitrus tree, primarily found in the Himalayan belt (notably Nepal) and parts of Indonesia. In Hindu tradition, they are closely associated with Lord Shiva — the name itself is derived from "Rudra" (a name of Shiva) and "aksha" (eyes/tears) — and have been worn for centuries in japa malas and as protective ornaments.

A bead's "mukhi" refers to the number of natural clefts or facets running down its surface, and different mukhi counts (from 1-mukhi through multi-mukhi varieties) are traditionally assigned distinct significance and are said to correspond to different planetary or deity associations, with the 5-mukhi being the most commonly available and widely worn.

Traditional practice generally recommends wearing Rudraksha after energisation (often via a Vedic ritual or a priest's blessing), commonly on a red or black thread, and observing certain conduct guidelines (e.g., removing before non-vegetarian meals or specific rituals) according to the practitioner's tradition. Authenticity is typically verified by seed origin, natural mukhi lines (versus artificially carved lines), and, increasingly, lab certification.